ArtistInfo

H.O. Kabaselleh

voc, KE
World
A.k.a. Hadjoullas Nyapanji Ochieng Ogolla

Hadjoullas Nyapanji Ochieng Ogolla, known to most as Ochieng Kabaselleh or Kalle Wuod Ogola, was for at least two decades one of Kenya’s most reknown and succesful musicians. For two decades he thrilled music fans from all over the country with excellent compositions and superb arrangements mirroring those of the late Franco Luambo Makiadi. In fact, his arrangements were so excellent that one would argue that if he were a Zairean, he would have ranked among the best on the continent. His songs are a unique version of benga with smooth guitars, ringing horns and swinging percussion, augmented by Kabaselleh’s voice which varies between baritone and bass. He recorded his first hit at age of fifteen while being a secondary school student at Pumwani secondary. It was one of the pioneers of Kenyan music, Daudi kabaka, who gave Kabasselleh his first chance. Kabaka was at one time Kabaselleh’s neighbour and was intrigued by his musical ability. He arranged for kabaselleh to record with the Equator Sound Band. He later founded his own band which he named Lunna Kidi. It was then that his popularity skyrocketed as he released hit after hit, among them Zainabu, Achi Maria, Sije, Millicento, Sikul Agulu and Piny Dunia Mokili. Most of his songs were in Dholuo. Although most of them were love songs, his songs touched on a myriad of other topics. In Sije he talks about descent human relations that transcend hard times, In Hommage A Owino Ger, he eulogises a lawyer friend of his. Some of his songs covered politics. His brief stint in prison was as a result of the lyrics in one of his songs which did not please the powers that be. Besides his excellent command of Dholuo, Kabaselleh has also sang in Kiswahili and Lingala. Sadly, he passed away in December, 1998 due to complications resulting from diabetes.

Genres

• World
• Pop
• Folk

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